Stearns County Approves Additional Funding for New Interchange

ST. CLOUD -- Stearns County has agreed to increase its share of the funding for a new interchange at Highway 15 and 33rd Street South in St. Cloud.

Increased right-of-way costs and Waite Park's decision to not share in the funding means it will cost Stearns County and the city of St. Cloud more. The project has risen to almost $16.5 million.

Officials argue the interchange is badly needed to allow for development along that corridor. County commissioner DeWayne Mareck says this project was envisioned about 30 years ago and now is the time to move it forward.

Stearns County is increasing its share from $1-million to about $1.87-million. The additional money will come from scheduled reimbursement dollars from the city of St. Cloud as part of the Sauk Rapids Bridge project in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

The design calls for a roundabout at each end of the bridge and roundabouts at Stearns County Road 74 on the St. Cloud side of Highway 15 and Granite View Road on the Waite Park side. Work on the interchange should begin in the spring with completion slated for late fall.